Sustainable procurement advances supplier operations and performance. It allows us to:
- Achieve better value and outcomes by leveraging resources and relationships to support sector knowledge, growth, and development
- Play a leadership role in who we do business with and what we buy, exposing emerging and innovative opportunities
Living wage update: March 2023
Living Wage for Families BC (LWFBC) is the official certification body which publishes the living wage rates each year and administers the Living Wage Program. We joined the living wage program in 2017.
Recently, the living wage rate for Metro Vancouver set by Living Wage for Families BC (LWFBC) increased 17.35% or $24.08 per hour. Because of the variability of the rate from year to year, Council made the decision to implement a compensation approach based on a 5-year rolling average of the living wage rate. The rolling average smooths out the ups and downs and better aligns with compensation programs in large organizations and those with multi-year collective agreements, like ours. We will continue to use the living wage rate as a benchmark, but we will no longer qualify for LWFBC certification under its current criteria.
We value the contributions of our staff and recognize the importance of fair compensation. All of our staff are compensated above minimum wage and the vast majority at or above the living wage rate.
Social (value) procurement
Invests in equitable economic participation that advance outcomes of inclusion, diversity, reconciliation, equity, and well-being, by:
- Increasing economic opportunities for businesses:
- With recognized certification
- Are social or diverse based on being owned or controlled by an equity seeking population (examples: non-profits, coops, women, Indigenous persons, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+)
- Improving economic independence and capacities through:
- Employment equity, access, and rights
- Ethical purchasing – fairtrade, labour standards, health and safety, animal welfare
- Economic well-being - Employee development and advancement
- Workforce diversity – participation for underemployed, unemployed, under-represented or equity-seeking populations
Environmental and green procurement
Invests in suppliers aligned with Green Vancouver and climate smart operations that are striving to be better for the environment, by:
- Preserving and restoring healthy ecosystems and natural habitats by minimizing pollution, conserving natural resources, and regenerating ecological/food systems, including:
- Clean water
- Water consumption
- Toxicity
- Local food
- Reducing and diverting waste (packaging, end of life, single-use elimination) “Zero Waste”
- Reducing and eliminating the dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) (renewable energy, circular economy) “Zero Carbon”
